Dia Cascone led the Cougars in runs scored (47) and walks (22) and was second in doubles (11) and RBI (27) and fourth in hits (49).

NEW SPRINGVILLE -- The Caldwell College softball team and second baseman Dia Cascone, an ex-Advance All-Star from Susan Wagner High School, was picked to finish first by the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) softball preseason poll, as voted on by the league’s 14 head coaches.

The Cougars, who tied for first in the CACC regular-season standings with Dominican College last year, received 12 of the 14 first-place votes and 194 points, 20 points more than No. 2 Dominican.

Ms. Cascone, a sophomore, made the all-CACC second team. She led the Cougars in runs scored (47) and walks (22) and was second in doubles (11) and RBI (27) and fourth in hiots (49).

Caldwell, which posted a 42-16 overall record last year, has dropped its first four games on a 12-game, season-opening trip to Kissimmee, Fla., for the Rebel Games. Its first league double-header is Wednesday against Concordia in Bronxville, N.Y.